France became the fourteenth country to legalize gay marriage after its legislature approval the proposal Tuesday. The news that the Socialist majority in the French assembly gained the upper hand in a vote of 331-225 sparked outrage in the country's conservative minority.
In past weeks, people ranging from activists to senior citizens and even priests were said to have joined in massive protests across the country. A group of protesters flooded part of the Champs-Elysees and marched on the Presidential palace.
The fact that France legalized gay marriage is considered a great victory for President Francois Hollande, who promised just that in his campaign. A large amount of French citizens are Catholics, and the approval of same-sex marriage did not sit well with many of the practicing parishioners. Some are reportedly planning to take legal action on the gay marriage bill's passage.
Argentina and Uruguay also recently legalized gay marriage and France is now the ninth European nation to allow same-sex couples to marry. The first marriages of gay couples could be as soon as June, according to Justice Minister Christiane Taubira. The move in Paris comes amid a similarly tense battle in the United States in the wake of recent Supreme Court proceedings.
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